Daria: A Tree Grows in Lawndale (2000)

Synopsis
by Brian J. Dillard

The typically sarcastic humor of Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) backfires, sending all of Lawndale into a tizzy in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When quarterback Kevin (voice of Marc Thompson) starts sporting a motorcycle jacket, the girls goad him into actually buying a motorcycle. Actually, he gets a moped -- and promptly destroys the statue of a dead local football legend while attempting to pop an impossible wheelie. Quitting the team, abandoning sports drinks, and appearing for the first time in the series without his football uniform, Kevin and cheerleader girlfriend Brittany (voice of Janie Mertz) sink into a deep depression. This malaise soon affects the entire town as the team enters a losing streak and the citizens of Lawndale become pariahs in the surrounding town. The Fashion Club gets shunned at the local mall, while Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) even get harassed by their colleagues. Tom (voice of Russell Hankin) finally suggests propping up Kevin's self-image by landing the guy a gig as a vehicle-safety speaker at local elementary schools. Despite Kevin's enthusiasm for this new role, ultimately, he returns to the fold -- and to Brittany's waiting arms.